Tag: New blog post

Music, New blog post, New music

Who You Need: HONNE

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Who You Need: HONNE

(image via nylon.com)

WHO: HONNE

WHERE: Bow, London

GENRE: Alternative/Pop

TOP SONGS: “Someone That Loves You” and “Warm On A Cold Night”

James and Andy of HONNE (which is the Japanese concept meaning “true feelings” and one’s “intimate self”) have been dropping new singles almost every week. All in preparation for their new album, Love Me/Love Me Not coming August 24th.

Mixing elevated verses and storyteller lyrics, these two have an alternative sound that will surely be the soundtrack to your summer.  One of their most recent singles, “Location Unknown” unveils the struggles of a long distance relationship alongside romantic lyrics; “I just need to know that you’re safe, given that I’m miles away, on the first flight, back to your side.” Electro-pop singer Georgia also lends her vocals on this one.

Releasing six singles so far, each portrays a different story featuring various genre blending elements. The London natives admit to being influenced by soul masters like Al Green and Bill Withers. Tracks like the low key, “Day 1” and funky “Me & You” feature slight soul elements that fuse into their already established “feel good” sound.

The duo explained the inspiration behind the pairs of new songs to Clash Music saying, “Those two sides have been rooted in us from the beginning, but now is the first time we’ve truly demonstrated it. One doesn’t exist without the other, and so this time these songs have to be there together. A lot of films and TV shows either explore the good or bad, but we wanted to show a balance and the grey space.”

Stay tuned for more new music to come…

To see HONNE live, click here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music, New blog post, New music, New Music Friday

Man Crush Monday: Post Malone

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Man Crush Monday: Post Malone

(Image via nme.com)

The 22-year-olds sophomore album titled, beerbongs & bentleys is jam-packed with an 18-song tracklist. Featuring a couple we already know the words to; “Candy Paint” and “rockstar”. Post Malone makes a rap album that almost doesn’t feel like rap at all.

Malone carries his own weight on this album; although he has some stellar features (Nicki Minaj, G-Eazy, YG, Ty Dolla $ign…) Songs like, “Rich & Sad”, “Psycho,” “Zack and Codeine,” and “Better Now” have that addicting Post Malone sound. Some beats are pop, while others are harsh hip-hop.

He’s unlike other rappers, as we hear on the acoustic ballad, “Stay”; which seems to already be a fan favorite. Malone’s wavering voice glides alongside a smooth acoustic guitar. He sings about the struggle to maintain a relationship; “Tell me that it’s all okay, I’ve been waitin’ on this all damn day, call me in the mornin’, tell me how last night went, I’m here, but don’t count on me to stay.” Never have I been able to listen to a rapper sing an acoustic ballad like this and still like it.

This album has been in the works for a couple years now. Malone tweeted in late 2016: “beerbongs and bentleys isn’t a song…. It’s a whole project. also a lifestyle and it’s coming.” Time definitely did this project justice. Full hip-hop albums are hard to love in their entirety, but Post Malone has managed to make each song stand on its own full of bubbly choruses and insanely cyclical beats.

According to forbes.com, beerbongs & bentleys already destroyed the record for the most streams of songs on an album in the U.S. All 18 songs were played 48 million times in just the United States.

 

To see Post Malone live, click here!

 

Music, New blog post, New music

Live Review: Cashmere Cat

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Live Review: Cashmere Cat

The Norwegian DJ/producer Cashmere Cat, otherwise known as Magnus August Høiberg, came to The Westcott Theater this Thursday. Cat has quickly become one of the most sought-after producers in the industry. Working with big names like Ariana Grande, Diplo, Major Lazer, and more.

Starting off the show with what sounded like an action movie soundtrack, Cat made fans wait quite a while to see him on stage. Once he did arrive, he jumped right into his track “Night Night” featuring Kehlani. The crowd got krunk to water droplet drops while the purple-hued lights set the tone for the night.

The 30-year-old played fan favorites like, “Adore,” “Mirror Maru,” “9 (After Coachella)”, and “Trust Nobody”. Adding an extreme remix onto every track left the crowd pulsing, especially when he spun out an EDM version of “Bartier Cardi”. He also played crowdpleasers like “God’s Plan,” “Do You,” and a sweet cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”

After watching him play, I now understand where his name comes from. Magnus paws at the records like a house cat with a string toy. Later in the night, he perches on the DJ table, waves at the crowd, and continues to nonchalantly bop his head to every song. Cat puts on an EDM show unlike any other, featuring video game melodies, suspended beats, and altered vocals.